Southsea firefighters use FaceTime in battle to bring massive fire under control

MODERN technology helped in the battle to bring the massive blaze in Portsmouth under control today.
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The fire ripped through Byngs Auto workshop workshop in Goldsmith Avenue in Southsea at around 10am this morning with more than 40 firefighters fighting the blaze.

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Everything we know so far about the fire in Goldsmith Avenue, Portsmouth

Police and paramedics were at the scene with nearby roads closed off and people evacuated from their houses and given refuge at Priory School.

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The operation was finally ‘scaled down’ around 3pm with relief crews taking over from firefighters at the scene.

But amid the drama was Southsea station manager Lacey Plumbley, leading the operation, who embraced technology to get a better vantage point of the incident.

Using FaceTime with colleagues, the firefighter said she was able to make better decisions.

The fire in Goldsmith Avenue, Southsea in Portsmouth. Picture: Jon AdamsThe fire in Goldsmith Avenue, Southsea in Portsmouth. Picture: Jon Adams
The fire in Goldsmith Avenue, Southsea in Portsmouth. Picture: Jon Adams

In a post on Twitter showing the footage, Ms Plumbley said: ‘A FaceTime today with Southsea crew, allowed me to see an aerial view of the incident.

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‘This helped incredibly with some tactical decision making. Thank you to all the crews and officers for working so hard and our colleagues in Hampshire police and SCAS (South Central Ambulance Service).’

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